Part of the best 1-2 punch in the NFL, Cleveland Browns RB Kareem Hunt has been quiet over the last few weeks of fantasy football. He now gets a chance to redeem himself on Monday Night Football, with the chance to advance in the playoffs on the line. Going against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense, what should we expect out of Kareem Hunt for fantasy?
Kareem Hunt is one of the more talented running backs in football
The above is not some over-the-top statement or anything profound. We have known he was special since he came into the NFL as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Taking note of a special rookie campaign
In his rookie year, Hunt put up a historic season. On his 272 attempts, he ran for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns. Hunt also added 455 yards through the air on 53 receptions for three more scores.
Since 2000, his 1,327 rushing yards are the eighth-highest for a player in their rookie season. He also is fifth in yards from scrimmage amongst all running backs with 1,782 yards from scrimmage.
In his nearly two years as a member of the Chiefs, Hunt totaled 2,151 yards and 15 TDs on 453 carries. Hunt’s 79 receptions for 833 yards and 10 TDs cemented his status as one of the best dual-threat RBs in the NFL.
However, off-field issues ended his tenure with the Chiefs. He signed with the Browns in 2019. There, he served an eight-game suspension. In his 20 games with the Browns, Hunt has 1,378 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns.
When Nick Chubb was on IR, Kareem Hunt showed his value to the team and fantasy
We wondered how Kareem Hunt would look as the RB1 for the team. In Week 5, we got an answer. After Chubb sustained an MCL sprain in the early stages of Week 4, it was up to Hunt to carry the load and prove why they brought him on the team.
From Week 5 through 8, Kareem Hunt went on a roll and was the RB11 in fantasy. He saw 65 rushing attempts and turned those into 254 yards but failed to find the end zone. Thanks to 10 receptions for 71 yards and two scores, Hunt averaged 13.6 PPR points and was a solid weekly play.
Since Chubb’s return, Hunt has been an afterthought
Unfortunately for Kareem Hunt and his fantasy managers, he has disappointed when you have needed him the most. While you were making the stretch to the fantasy playoffs, Hunt was left in the wake of Nick Chubb’s incredible stretch that has him second in rushing yards since his return.
Following the team’s Week 9 bye, Kareem Hunt is the RB29 in fantasy. His 272 yards and one touchdown has been enough for 10.1 PPR points per week. I don’t think we ever expected Hunt to see large rushing totals when Chubb was is in the lineup. When both are active, Chubb averages 18.1 carries per game to Hunt’s 13.5 average. What is concerning is the lack of any real passing game involvement.
Over the last four games, Hunt has just seven catches on 10 targets. His 1.75 reception average over these last four weeks is the lowest of any four-game stretch of his career. His averages are actually being buoyed due to the Week 10 matchup against the Texans—one of the worst rushing defenses in football. 50% of his rushing total over the last four games can be attributed to that games alone (104 of 210).
Of his last three games, Kareem Hunt has yet to score double-digit PPR points, averages 35 rushing yards and 11.3 receiving yards, and has finished as the RB32, RB38, and RB30.
The Browns Week 14 matchup against the Ravens won’t be any easier for Kareem Hunt
If Kareem Hunt can not find the end zone, he is relegated to RB3 status.
In 2020, 11 different running backs have finished as an RB2 against the Ravens (RB2 = in the top 24 highest RB scores), but they all needed at least 17 touches. Something hard to imagine given recent weeks and Chubb’s workhorse style of play.
Allowing 4.3 yards per rush and a touchdown on every 62.5 carries, the Ravens are sixth in fantasy points allowed to the running back at 20.50.
The one hope I have for Kareem Hunt tonight is the absence of TE Austin Hooper. He is expected to miss this game, but it has not been made official yet. I bring this up because there is a strong correlation between running backs and tight ends when it comes to targets. Unless rookie Harrison Bryant or David Njoku snag them all up, Hunt could see four to five targets. I am not saying I feel great about that, but there are potential paths to fantasy success.
Is there any value on Monkey Knife Fight for Hunt?
When looking around Monkey Knife Fight‘s options (dont’ forget to use that PFN code for a 100% match when you set up your account), I am specifically avoiding any prop that involves Kareem Hunt. Luckily enough, it seems they are as well, since he is not available in any of the contests.
The only option at the moment would be to choose Kareem Hunt for the Fantasy Challenge contest. In that game, you choose three players to hit a certain number of fantasy points. The lowest total being 46.5 PPR points for a 2x prize. Going simply off averages, you would need all three players to score 15.5 PPR points to hit your number. That is something Kareem Hunt hasn’t done once since Week 7. Unless you nail the other two options, having more than 46.5 could be difficult to pull off.
If Hooper is out, Jarvis Landry will find his way into my choices. I would also snag Lamar Jackson’s top target in Mark Andrews. From that point, it’s a personal preference. If you think Chubb has a great day as he usually does, slide him in. Just remember that in his last two games against the Ravens, he has 25 carries for 101 yards and no touchdowns combined.
There is the guessing game of which Ravens RB is going to be featured. Since it is PPR, JK Dobbins bring the most upside out of the three. Another option is Marquise Brown. He can make any catch and turn it into a home run and is riding a hot streak over his last two weeks. Brown has caught nine passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns while hitting 18.5 and 14.9 PPR points in his last two games.
Want more fantasy football analysis and news?
Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @PFN365 to stay up to date with all things around the NFL and the 2020 fantasy football season. Also, continue to visit Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis while also seeing our fantasy football section for more coverage and up-to-date rankings.
Tommy Garrett is a writer for PFN covering Fantasy Football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.